A POLITICIAN chased and caught a criminal after he found the man asleep in his car.

Last Wednesday, Herbie Crossman was shocked to find the window of his car had been smashed as he arrived at his private parking space near his home in Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane.

But the 61-year-old was even more surprised when he looked inside and found 35-year-old Darren Weston catching 40 winks in the driver's seat.

Mr Crossman, who hopes to represent Harrow West in parliament and Rayners Lane at the council for UKIP in the forthcoming elections, said: "As you can imagine I was pretty annoyed to discover that my car window had been smashed but I couldn't believe he had the audacity to have a nap in there as well.

"Obviously I said a few choice words for him. He tried to run away but I managed to catch up with him, grab hold of his jacket, and hold on to him until the police came.

"I just don't think we should stand for stuff like this. There are plenty of law-abiding people in this area who, given the economic climate, are struggling but none of them resorts to crime.

"Behaviour like this is simply not on."

When he returned to his car, he discovered Weston had discarded an apple core, chocolate wrappers and empty milkshake bottles under the seat.

He has also since told police that he found what he believes to be a woman's purse in the door storage.

Weston, of Drake Road, Rayners Lane, appeared at Harrow Magistrates' Court last Friday, charged with interfering with a vehicle.

It emerged during the case that, as a result of the arrest, he had breached a community order, handed to him for stealing £55 worth of power tools in November last year, and he was sentenced to four weeks in jail.

It also emerged that he had a long list of previous convictions for similar offences.